Oil-gas-making apparatus



Feb. 23 1926.

, 1,574,502 c. MATTHEWS, JR., ET AL OIL GAS MAKING APPARATUS Filed Mar-l7 1923 Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES .I'PADTENIT OFFICE.

cnannns m'rrnnw's, an, AND WILLIAM c. marrnnws', or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' omens-MAKING ArrAnA'rus.

Application filed March 17, 1923. Serial No. 625,709.

paratus, of which the following is a Specification, reference be ng had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improved means for effecting a proper mixture of air with gasoline or other oil vapor to produce a gas suitablefor heating and illuminating purposes, the device being primarily designed for household use. It has for its leading object the provision in connection with a movable air holder, means'for forcing airthereinto, and ages generator that has connection with the interior of such holder, of automatic electrically-operated means for setting in op-- eration the air-forcing means after each approximate exhaustion of the air from the holder and thereafter when the required amount of air has been forced into the holder have the air supply cut off, the air so -'s'u'p plied to the holder being utilized in'theformation of gas by combining it with the vapor of gasoline in the generator. Insome forms of gas making machines it is common practice to cause a quantity of'atmospheric air and a quantity of gasoline vapor to pass into the said holder whereby such holder 4 and the top of the holder as usual. Through shown and particularly described an apparatus of the kind referred to that contemplates the use of the movable holder element as a mixing chamber it is to be understood,

except as it may be specifically restricted by the terms of some of the claims, that the above stated object of the invention is capable of being attained by the other type of apparatus mentioned. Another important object of the invention is to provide means that will, in the event that current ceases to flow in the circuit that embraces the motor that drives the air blower, keep such circuit open until manually closed through a switch,

. and thereby prevent the formation of gas that would escape through open burners that had been in use at the time of the accidental cutting off of the current. In connection with the form .of apparatus in which our invention is shown embodied, and which form we deem preferable, it is also our object to provide means for preventing the escape of gas into the building in which the device is located in the event that the liquid that forms the usual seal for the gas holder should solessen in quantity fr om any cause That as to fail to form an effective seal. which we believe to be new will be set forth in the claims.

The drawing illustrates, largely diagrammatically, an apparatus embodylng. our invention, some portions of the apparatus shown being in vertical section. In said drawing 1 indicates a closed receptacle in which is located an ordinary gas holder or hell 2 adapted to move up and down in said receptacle, being guided in such movements by a'rod 3 aflixed at its upper and lower hendsto the upper and lower walls of the receptacle and passing throu h a sleeve 4 secured centrally to said h'ol er. A collar 5 near the lower end of the rod acts as a stop to limit the downward movement of the holder. As indicated in the drawing the receptacle 1 is designed to contain a body of water which acts as a seal so as to prevent the escape of gas that is confined between it this body of water and up into the holder project two pipes 6 and 7 for, respectively,

the admission to and discharge of gas from the holder.

8 indicatesa gas generator in the form of a tank adapted to hold a body of gasoline, which tank, as usual, is preferabl located beneath the surface of the groun and at some little distance from the building wherein is located the parts already described. Communicating with the tank 8 is a ipe 9 through which air is adapted to be orced and by combining with the vapor of the gasoline form the desired gas. Such gas is .conducted out of the generator and :to the said pipe 6 that communicates with the holder 2 by a pipe 10. Theair that passesto the tank 8 through the pipe 9 is forced thereto by means of a rotary fan blower of any ordinary construction, the casing of which is-indicated by 11, such blower being suitably connected wlth an ordinary electric motor, here indicated by 12. Interposed be is an operating handle 16 that preferably has one end portion in the form of a pointer, which by cooperation with a segment that will have indicating characters thereon, will enable the operator to determine the extent to which the valve is open. This cross-connection between the two pipes 9 and 10 is for the purpose of permitting more or less air to be forced to the holder without having to first pass through the generator, and thereby insure that the gas is not too rich and heavy for proper consumption, as would be the case. of course, if all the air that entered into the'mixture first passed in contact with the gasoline, and particularly so if the generator contained a comparatively fresh supply of the gasoline. According to the quality of the gasoline the user will manipulate the valve referred to in order that the desired amount of air may be forced directly through the connecting pipe 14. The air that is drawn into the fan casing 11 is, in large part, air that has previously been confined in the casing above and around the movable holder 2 and by reason of such confinementhas become appreciably warmed, although some air from anoutside source will also be drawn into the fan casing through a pipe 18. and the gas, as it is drawn oft from the holder for consumption, passes through a pipe 19 that communicates with the lower end of the vertical pipe 7 in the receptacle 1,'as will be understood.

hen a sutiicient quantity of gaseous mixture has been formed to cause the holder or hell 2 to rise to its uppermost position in the receptacle 1 the electric current that drives the motor will be automatically out oh. and, also, when the supply of gas has been to a large extent drawn off from the holder the current will in like manner be restored to the motor, such shutting off and restoring of the current being through the automatic operation of a suitable switch with which the said holder is connected. Such a switch is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 and may be of any ordinary construction. As here shown it is ofthc well-known type employing a incrcury-containing vessel into which the separated ends of a circuit wire extend, and by the rocking of which vessel the mercury therein is caused to flow into or out of contact with such ends. As usual, this inercnry container is carried by a pivoted frame that is adapted to he held by a spring in either of two positions so as to have the circuit open or closed. As shown this switch is enclosed in a casing 21 secured against the outer face of the receptacle 1 near the upper end thereof and opposite an opening in I the Wall of the receptacle. Through such opening projects the outer end portion of a lever 22 that is pivoted at 23, and by a turning of which lever, as will be apparent, the switch 20 can be turned into either of its two positions. 22 is suitably connected with the holder or bell 2, such connection, in the construction shown, being by means of a slot 22 in the lever that engages over a pin projecting from a lug 2 affixed to the top wall of the holder or hell. Such construction permits, as will be understood, a considerable degree of movement of such holder or bell in either direction before the lever will rock the switch. 1

ln the drawing the holder or hell 2 is indicated in full lines in its lowermost position and with the switch 20 in closed position, thus of course permitting the current to energize the motor 12. The circuit wires leading to and from the motor are indicated respectively by 24 and 25. The Wire 25 has connection with the pivoted armature 26 of an electro-magnet 27 from which leads a terminal wire 28 of the magnet, said wire 28 being connected intermediately with a manually-operable switch 29, the object of which switch will be later explained herein. The wire 28, as here shown, connects with a contact 28 adapted to be engaged by a circuit closing device in the form of a bar 26" carried by'the armature'26, and which is also adapted to engage a contact 30 with which is connected another wire 30 conneeted at a binding post 31 with a wire 32 that leads to a battery or other source of current. The other one of the terminals of the magnet 27 :is indicated by 33 and, as shown, it is connected at the binding post 34 to the circu t wire 24, and it has intermediate its ends a resistance coil 35. From the-foregoing brief description of the arrangement of the circuit wires and parts connected therewith it will be evident that when the holder or hell 2 is in the position shown in full lines in the drawing the current will pass to the motor and the fan blower will be operated as described. When, however, the holder or hell rises sufliciently to cause a turning of thelever that will so rock the switch 20 as to open it, the current will be shut off from the motor but Will continue to pass through the circuit breaker comprising the wire 33, resistance 35, magnet 27, wire 28, and contact plate 26'.

The inner end of this lever current supply all of the gas in the holder or bell 2 should be consumed, serious consequences might ensue upon restoration of the current since then a fresh supply of gas would be produced and forced into the holder, from which it could escape through the open burners that had been in use at the time of the cutting off of the current.

Such a catastrophe is prevented by our im proved construction since the entire failure of current supply will, of course, denergize the magnet 27, and accordingly its armature 26, through the pull exerted by the spring 36, will be drawn completely away from the magnet, disconnecting the contact 28 and 30. The current is thus effectually cut off until restored by the manual operation of the switch 29. The necessity for so operating this switch serves to warn the user of the apparatus of the possible danger from gas escaping from burners that were in use at the time the current was cut off.

The receptacle 1, it will be noted, is provided with a close-fitting cover, and through an opening therethrough there is inserted the end of a pipe 37 that at its other end is joined to and communicates with the pipe 1.8 that supplies atmospheric air to the casing 11 of the fan blower. By such construction all danger of gas escaping into the building is obviated in the event that thewater that forms the seal for the gas in the holder 2 should, by evaporation or leakage, fall to such a level as to fail to provide the desired'seal. In such event any gas escaping around the lower edge pf the holder would pass through the pipe 37 and be drawn into tliii fan casing with the atmospheric air that was being drawn in, and

with such air be forced along by the fan,

and while there might thus be induced a constant circulation of such gas until the trouble was discovered and remedied there would be no leakage of gas into the room where the machine was located. -Fu.rther more, the provision of this pipe 37 arranged as stated with respect to the casing 1 and the fan blower is of value inthat when the motor is started as described by the downward movement of the holder 2 the air that is in such 'casing around and above the holder will be sucked out therefrom and through the said pipe to the intake of the fan blower andthence to the generator 8,-thus insuring a supply of air for passage to the generator that will, in cold weather, be much warmer than if wholly drawn through the supply pipe 18, for, as will be understood,

the air that has been for sometime in the casing will have become considerably warmer than air drawn in cold weather from an outside source and will therefore be better adapted for continuing with the gasoline vapor. Inasmuch as the blower device is necessarily operated only intermittently therewill ordinarily be ample opportunity for the air that has entered the casing through the pipes 18 and 37 during the downward movement of the holder 2 to become appreciably warmed. Such outside and colder air as will be drawn into the fan casing directly from the pipe 18 will be of less volume than that which has been warmed in the manner stated, and such air from the pipe 18, mingling with the warmer air from the casing and the pipe 37, will thereby be warmed, with the result that the entire quantity of air that passes from the fan blower casing will be of an even and sufliciently raised temperature to well adapti t for combining with the gasoline vapor.

As has been suggested herein the features of this invention that relate to the automatic stopping and starting of the motor-driven air-forcing means and the necessity for manually operating the switch 29 are equal 1y applicable to that type of apparatus where air alone is forced intothe holder and thereafter is led to and over gasoline in a generator.

\Vhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an" oil gas making apparatus, the combination of a movable holder, a casing enclosing the same, a fan blower for forcing air into said holder, an electric motor for operating said fan blower, an electric switch for controlling the motor operating circuit, means connected with said holder for opening and closing said switch, a gas generator, a pipe connecting the generator with said holder, and a check valve to prevent the contents of the holder from flowing back into the atmosphere when said. fan blower is not in operation.

2. In an oil gas making apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a gas generator, a fan blower driven by said motor for forcing air "into and through said generator. a holder connected with said fan blower, a mechanically operated switch actuatedby said holder for controlling the motor operating circuit, and a normally closed electrically operated circuit breaker operable to break the motor operating circuit upon failure of the supply of electric.

current.

3. In an oil gas making apparatus, the combination of an electric motor, a gas generator, a fan blower driven by said motor for forcing air into and through said generator, a holder connected with said fan blower, a mechanically operated switch combination of a closed casing, a holder movable in said casing, a gas generator in conununication with said holder, means for forcing air into, said generator and holder, an air inlet for said air forcing means, and a pipe connecting the interior of said oasing with said air inlet.

5. In an oil gas making apparatus, the

combination of a closed casing, a holder movable in said casing, a gas generator in communicationwith said holder, electrically operated means for forcing air into sail generator and holder, a switch actuated by movement of said holder for controlling the operation of said air forcing means, an air inlet for said air forcing means, and a pipe connecting the interior of said casing with said air inlet.

6. In an oil gas making apparatus, the combination of a closed casing, a holder movable in said casing, a gas generator in communication with said holder, electrically operated means for forcing air into said generator and holder, a switch actuated by movement of said holder for controlling the operation of said air forcing means, an air inlet for said air forcing means, a pipe connecting the interior of said casing with said air inlet, and a normally closed electrically operated circuit breaker for preventing operation of said air forcing means upon failure of the electric current supply.

7 In an oil gas making apparatus, the

combination of an electric motor, a gas,

generator, :1 gas holder, means driven by said motor for forcing air through said generator into said holder, a switch actuated by exhaustion of the supply of gas in the holder to close the motor operating circuit, and a circuit breaker for automatically breaking the motor operating circuit upon failure of the electric current and maintaining it open until manually closed.

8. In an oil gas making apparatus, the combination of a closed casing, a movable gas holder in said casing, a gas generator in communication with said holder, means for forcing air through said generator into said holder, means controlled by the movement of said holder for intermittently operating said air forcing means, and means connecting said air forcing means with the interior of said casing to allow air in the casing to be Withdrawn therefrom and forced in o said holder.

9. In an oil gas making apparatus, the combination of a closed receptacle, a movable gas holder therein, the open lower end of said holder being sealed by liquid in said receptacle, a gas generator, means for forcing air through said generator into said holder, and means connecting the interior of said receptacle with said air forcing means.

10. In an oil gas making apparatus, the combination of a closed receptacle, a mova ble gas holder therein, the open lower end of said holder being sealed by liquid in said receptacle, a gas generator, means for forcing air through said generator into said holder, means connecting the interior of said receptacle with said air forcing means, and valve controlled means connecting said air forcing means directly with said holder.

CHARLES MATTHEWS, JR. WILLIAM C. MATTHEWS. 

